State Senator Capri Cafaro has fired her District Director after learning that money had allegedly been stolen from the Senator's checking account.

In an exclusive interview with 21 News reporter Janet Rogers, Senator  Cafaro said all started when police informed her that several checks from her account had bounced. Those checks were allegedly cashed by her District Director Jonathan Wike.

House members do not receive money to rent and staff local offices so Cafaro has been using her Senate pay and adding her own personal money to pay rent, utilities, and staff her local office in Warren. 

Wike, a familiar face that was seen at functions that Senator Cafaro could not attend, was a trusted employee who acted as her right hand man to help her serve constituents in the 32nd Senate District.

Cafaro terminated Wike's employment a few weeks ago after police told her he allegedly stole funds from her personal account.

 "I can confirm I was, and am the victim here and it is honestly incredibly heart breaking for me. It's been somewhat emotionally taxing as well, given the nature of what I described as how long I've known this individual," said Cafaro.

Senator Cafaro says Wike volunteered on her first campaign in 2004 and interned at her office with the previous district director. She hired him as her District Director for her Warren office in mid 2008.

Cafaro says his salary to staff her Warren office was about $35,000 a year. 

The state senator would not reveal the amount of money she or authorities believe was allegedly taken from her account.

"Because this is an on going investigation of my former district director I unfortunately can not discuss any of the details related to the investigation and have to direct you to the bureau of Criminal Investigation for that," said Cafaro.

BCI, Ohio's top law enforcement agency, confirms it received a letter from Vienna Police, June 26th, requesting that agency investigate bad checks passed allegedly by Jonathan Wike made from the Senator's account. 

Agents also received letter from Cortland Police on June 29 and Howland Township Police June 30th. 

The investigation began after a Bank Fraud Risk Specialist with the 717 Credit Union Contacted police.

21 News wishes to emphasize Wike has not been arrested and no criminal charges have been filed.

BCI says once it's Investigation is complete, it will turn evidence over to the Trumbull County Prosecutors Office which will determine if criminal charges will be filed.

Wike did not return our call for a comment.

Senator Cafaro emphasizes that no campaign money was used to pay her former district director and that he was never a state employee.

She will be keeping the Warren office open, But with only a year and a half left in office, she likely will not hire another person to fill that position. 

Instead, she intends to have her staff in Columbus take local calls and she says she will continue to meet with constituents at the Warren office.